It appears an historic cemetery that’s been privately cared for by generations of local families will soon become the property of Oxford Twp.
Township officials last week voted 6-0 to direct Clerk Clara Sanderson to talk with representatives of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association to work out the ‘logistics? of transferring ownership of the 6.972-acre cemetery to the township.
The board will revisit the issue at its March 28 meeting.
Given ‘they’re not growing anymore ground,? Trustee Pat Fitchena felt the transfer is a good idea.
Located on the east side of Baldwin Road, north of Oakwood Road, the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery still has 3,029 unsold lots, according to Calvin Mott, a trustee with the all-volunteer cemetery association.
Along with deeding over all those lots, the association also promised to give the township the approximately $43,000 in its treasury.
Concerns over the ongoing cost of perpetual care and who will manage the cemetery in the future, prompted the aging membership of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association to approach the township board in November about taking over the operation, maintenance and ownership.
According to a 1990 book from the North Oakland Genealogical Society, the cemetery was established by ‘the people of the northwest part of the township? because they had ‘no public burying ground.?
Although the exact year the cemetery was created is not known, there is a tombstone from 1847.
Generations upon generations of local families have voluntarily managed the cemetery, which is the final resting place for residents of Oxford, Brandon, Hadley and Metamora townships.
Supervisor Bill Dunn expressed his concern over how taking over another cemetery would impact the township’s finances.
‘Cemeteries are definitely not money-makers,? he said. ‘It’s going to be a drain. There’s no doubt about it.?
‘I’m not trying to be negative, folks,? Dunn explained. ‘I have to try to figure out where we’re going to get the money to be able to do this. I want to do it for you, I really do. But I have to be devil’s advocate here.?
The supervisor obtained a quote from the gentleman who currently cares for the township’s other cemeteries on W. Burdick Street and N. Oxford Road.
Dunn was told it would cost an additional $12,000 a year to maintain the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
‘If we hang onto the cemetery, please don’t tell that to the people who are mowing our lawn,? joked Mott, who told the board the association currently pays $650 per lawn cutting.
‘Maybe we can get a quote from your person,? Dunn said.
Mott said the association usually has the lawn cut up to 10 times a year, although last year, it was mowed eight times.
Dunn suggested the township could limit the cutting as a way to save money.
Treasurer Joe Ferrari did some quick calculations and figured if the township sold all 3,029 lots for $400 each, received the $43,000 from the cemetery association and only paid $5,200 a year for lawn cutting, the government could afford to maintain it for 241.27 years.
If all those numbers stayed the same, except the township paid $12,000 a year for lawn service, the government could afford to maintain it for 104.55 years.
‘That’s long enough for me,? Fitchena said.